Minhas v. Gonzales

MEMORANDUM ** Ajitpal Singh Minhas, a native and citizen of India, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order summarily affirming an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) order denying his motion to reopen removal proceedings conducted in absentia. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for abuse of discretion, see Garcia v. INS, 222 F.3d 1208, 1209 (9th Cir.2000) (per curiam), and we deny the petition for review. The IJ did not abuse his discretion in concluding that Minhas received adequate notice of his removal hearing because Minhas conceded that his counsel received proper notice of the hearing. See 8 U.S.C. § 1229(a)(1); Garcia, 222 F.3d at 1209 (holding that notice to the attorney of record constitutes notice to petitioner). The IJ also did not abuse his discretion in concluding that Minhas failed to establish ineffective assistance of counsel because Minhas provided no evidence that his counsel performed deficiently, and Minhas failed to satisfy the procedural requirements set forth in Matter of Lozada, 19 I. & N. Dec. 637, 1988 WL 235454 (BIA 1988). See Reyes v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 592, 597 (9th Cir.2004). Because Minhas did not demonstrate that his absence was due to lack of notice, see 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C)(ii), or due to exceptional circumstances, see 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(b)(5)(C)(i), the IJ acted within his discretion in denying Minhas’s motion to reopen. Petitioner’s remaining contentions lack merit. PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. Footnotes [**] This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.